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Football anti-knife campaign 'phenomenal'

Middlesbrough FC Theresa Cave and a group of people in white T-shirts stand pitch-side at the Riverside Stadium. They are holding a purple sign with the Chris Cave Foundation logo on it.Middlesbrough FC
The Chris Cave Foundation was involved in Saturday's No More Red day at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium

A mum whose son was stabbed to death has said all football clubs should take part in their own anti-knife crime campaign.

Middlesbrough players and fans supported the No More Red day at Saturday's match against Coventry City, where they ditched the traditional red strip, shirts and scarves for other colours.

Co-organiser Theresa Cave, who set up the Chris Cave Foundation after her son was murdered in Redcar, Teesside, in 2003, said the support was "phenomenal".

"The kids were coming forward and waving and saying 'no more knives'," she told BBC Radio Tees.

Middlesbrough FC The Middlesbrough FC changing room displaying an all-white football kit.Middlesbrough FC
Middlesbrough FC wore an all-white strip during the match

Her 17-year-old son was stabbed to death by Sean Matson two decades ago in an unprovoked attack.

Matson, then aged 20 and who was high on drink and drugs, was later jailed for life after pleading guilty to murder.

Ms Cave set up the foundation in her son's memory, which educates young people around issues of violent crime.

The Chris Cave Foundation A school picture of Chris Cave. A young man, with short brown hair, who is smiling.The Chris Cave Foundation
Chris Cave was 17 years old when he was murdered in Redcar, Teesside

She said she received well-wishes from Coventry City FC fans, following the match at the Riverside Stadium.

"Can you imagine the whole country doing this? It would be phenomenal," she said.

"I was just breathless - to see so many people there, so many white tops in the crowd, and I'm like, 'wow, this is amazing'."

Ms Cave has called on all football clubs to do something similar to highlight the dangers of knife crime.

Theresa Cave set up the Chris Cave Foundation after losing her son to knife crime. She tells BBC Radio Tees' Gary Philipson about Saturday's campaign

Middlesbrough FC's one-off kits were set to be auctioned off after Saturday's Championship match, with funds split between the Chris Cave Foundation and the Middlesbrough FC Foundation’s Kicks scheme.

However, Ms Cave was later told 100% of the donations would go to her charity.

"We didn't do it for the money" she said, tearing up, adding it was all about raising awareness.

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